Method of and apparatus for building roads



Oct. 23, 1934. J. N. HELTZEL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING ROADS Filed Ma 5, 1930 4 Sheets-sheaf 1 Oct. 23, 1934. N. HELTZEL 1,977,850

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING ROADS Filed May 5, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNHELTZEL,

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Oct. 23, 1934. J. N. H ELTZEL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING ROADS Filed May 5, 1930 4 Sheets -Sheet s nllll 1:

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IETHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING ROADS Filed May 5, 1930' 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 gwumloa mhmzu,

Patented Oct. 23, 1934 UNITED' STATES PATENT oFFicE- METHOD OEVAND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING norms John N. Heltzel, Warren, Ohio Application May 5, 1930, Serial No. 449,886

Claims.

materials settle to the bottom and this segrega-- tion of materials is very objectionable and does not produce uniform concrete in the road; and it is a primary object and purpose of this invention to obviate this difiiculty by the provision of a local mixing apparatus designed to receive the central mixed concrete from the trucks or transit mixers, and remix the same just prior to its distribution over the road bed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus whereby concrete transported by trucks or transit mixers may be used efficiently on road work where mesh reinforcing is employed in the construction.

A further object of the invention is toprovideimproved means for distributing and spreading the lower course of the concrete to the required depth to receive reinforcing mesh.

A further object of the invention is to provide a transverse screeding attachment to screed off and finish the concrete, and means for producing both longitudinal and transverse joints in the roadway.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus in advance of the subgrader to elevate the trucks or transit mixers to the proper elevation to facilitate the discharging of the contents into the local mixing device.

A still further object of the invention is to 0 provide means whereby the subgrader, containing the power unit, maybe detached from the mixing and spreading and finishing portion of the machine to permit of the subgrader being advanced independently of the remaining portion of the machine to do the preliminary subgrading in advance of the concreting operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the entire weight of the machine is not required to operate on top of the side forms, thus relieving the side forms of pressure to avoid their settling out of alignment.

However, the screed is supported by, and is reciprocated over the tops of, the side forms; therefore, the forms are not depressed as in the case line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

(Cl. 94-39) v of the old practice, where the forms support the entire weight of the heavy finishing machine.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved subgrader capable of a transverse reciprocating motion to plane down the subgrade and supported upon endless tread which may operate either upon the side forms or to the inner or outer sides thereof, whereby not only the forms may be relieved of the pressure of the heavy apparatus, but wherein the subgrade may also be relieved of such pressure which might tend to depress the same.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which like reference symbols indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of animproved machine constructed according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through the rear portion of the machine and the roadway being operated upon.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section taken on the Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through the forward portion of the machine.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the machine.

Fig. F is a vertical cross section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary front elevation with one of the side forms shown in section, of a modified form of device.

Fig. 8 is a side view, with parts broken away, of a modified form of local remixing device.

Fig. 9 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 9-9 in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a side view, with parts shown in section, of a further modified form of local remixing device and reciprocated transversely across the roadway by any appropriate means, such for instance, as the endless chain 19, shown in Fig. 6 as being trained about sprockets 20 carried upon the traveling forth in the channels of channel or I beams 24.

The spout 16 extends with its axis longitudinally of the roadway and is supported above the road way upon the carriage so that the spout 16 will roll along the side forms with the wheels 25.

The tra'weling bridge or carriage 21 is supported by rollers 25 which roll along the side forms 12. The longitudinal member or blade 18 is adjusted up and down by the screws 26, permitting the blade 18 to be adjusted quickly to strike off the bottom course to receive the reinforcing mesh 14. The screw member26eng8-8es with the blade 18 and has threaded engagement with one end of a lever 2'7 fulcrumed intermediate its ends upon a. bracket 28 and at its other end pivoted, as indicated at- 29, to a part of the frame or traveling bridge 21.

-At 30 is represented a transversely-reciprocating screed or finishing member trailed loosely back of the machine by chains or rod members 31 attached to the traveling bridge. The screed 30 includes .an upstanding substantially vertical corrugated plate 32 constructed to buck a mass of concrete. This corrugated plate 32, during a rapid transversely reciprocatory movement, agitates the concrete and produces a more compact member 30 is movable to and from the concrete structure. The screed 30 has attached thereto a truss member 33 with upstanding arms 34. Such truss member is provided with adjusting means 35 to flex the screed member 30 whereby to vary the crown of such screed member. The vertical corrugations in the vertical plate 32 will permit the flexing of the screed without breaking the continuity of said vertical plate 32. The screed member is reciprocated laterally by means of an eccentric 36 operating through an arm 37, the eccentric 36 being mounted upon a shaft 38. The shaft 38 is in axial alignment with the screw conveyor shaft 39 which extends through the conveyor spout 16 and carries the screw conveyor 40 thereon. A clutch 40 is mounted between the shafts 38 and 39 and'may be connected and disconnected through the use of a lever 41. In

this way. the screed member 30 maybe thrown into and out Of motion as desired. The screed by the suspending chains or other members 42 which are wound upon the drums 43 carried by a transversely extending shaft 44.

The drums are. rotated by means of ratchet wheels 45 cooperating withpawls 46 carried by levers 47 pivoting about the shaft 44. Dogs 48 engage the ratchet wheels to prevent retrograde .stalled in the groove, as desired. The blade 49 is pivoted, as indicated at 51, at or nearits for-; ward end upon a pin 52 journaled to rotate in lugs 53 of a vertically andhorizontally adjustable plate 54. The adjustable plate 54 is adapted to 5] ide on a plate 55 which is adjustable horizontally 'be removed later and the along the frame work of the traveling bridge or carriage as shown in Fig. 3. An adjusting screw 56 carried by the plate 55 is engaged with the platev54 for the purpose of adjusting such plate 54 together with the joint blade 49 up and down. An adjusting screw 57 connecting with the plate 55 acts to adjust both plates 54 and 55 in a horizontal direction, whereby to bring the joint installing blade 49 to a correct position laterally of the roadway. I

After raising the screed 30, the joint installing blade 49 is raised out of .the concrete by manipulation of the screw 56, such blade may be swung about the pivot pin 52 as.a center to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, the blade 49 thus taking up a position extending transversely of the roadway for the purpose of cutting a transverse joint. The blade 49 may be reciprocated transversely by means of arm 58 having lugs 59 adapted to register in a seat 60 of the blade 49. The arm '58 receives its vibratory motion from eccentric 61 carried bythe shaft 38 behind the eccentric 36.

- After the transverse joint has been cut at one side of the roadway. by the reciprocating action of the blade 49 in the concrete, when that blade I 49 isin the position indicated in 3, the blade may be thereupon lifted out of the concrete by i raising the plate 54 through action of the adjusting screw 56, and thereupon swung around through 180 degrees to the opposite side of the roadway and into alignment with the joint groove previously produced. Such blade 49 may be then' lowered into the concrete and reciprocated by the eccentric. motion, the arm 58 having been swung around to the opposite side of the machine and the opposite lug 59 reengaged in the seat 60of the blade. V

The grooves having been cut, suitable joint material may be inserted in the grooves; such join may consist of premolded material to remain in place, or steel plates may be inserted in the grooves, and it is to be understood that the screed will surface over the joint material or joint plates after they have been installed; provided removable steel plates are used, these may open grooves filled with a'suitable material.

After the transverse joint has been installed, the blade 49 is then swung around to the center of the road, and is again engaged longitudinally in the plastic concrete for further advancement ofthe machine to produce a longitudinal joint. The blade 49 is thus adjustable vertically by the screw 56 and adjustable laterally by the adjusting screw 57. Such blade is also adjustably sup-; ported by the chain 62 including a turnbuckle, as indicatedin Fig. 2, and also in Fig. 3. At the forward portion of the machine is mounted a power plant or motor-"63 adapted to drive the endless treads 64; which produce the necessary traction to propel the apparatus. The motor 63 is installed on a forward frame 65 which'is dcptachable from the traveling bridge or carriage,

meshing with a worm 74 at the forward portion of the screw conveyor shaft 39 which extends through the screw spout or trough 16.

In the spout or trough 16 are auxiliary blades which agitate and mix the concrete as it passes through the spout under the action of the screw conveyor 40. The concrete material is discharged into the hopper '76 at the forward end of the spout 16 from a, truck 77 or other means of conveyance. The worm wheel 73 is fixed to a sleeve 78, as shown in Fig. 5 loosely extending about the shaft '12 and having a clutch connection with the shaft as indicated by the clutch '79 operable by a lever 80. The worm 71 is also carried loosely about the power shaft '72 and is connected thereto by means of a clutch 81 operable by a 'lever 82.

The endless treads 64 are coupled to the power shaft '12 by means of chains or other devices 83 which connect with drums 84 loose on the power shaft and adapted to be clutched thereto as by the clutches 85 operable by the levers 86. Chains or other flexible connections 87, shown in Fig. 1, are wound on the drums 84 and have their forward ends connected to stakes 88 driven into the subgrade for the purpose of advancing, or assisting to advance, the machine, when the clutches 85 are engaged and the drums 8e driven by the motor 63. When it is desired to move the machine forward, the clutches 85 are engaged, driving the endless tread fi l through the chains 83. As the machine is thus propelled forward, the

subgrader blade 66 is reciprocated laterally, the

clutch 81 being engaged for this purpose.

in case of extremely hard subgrade, and where the endless treads 6% would not produce friction enough to overcome the resistance to forward movement, the cables 6? will act to positively draw the machine forward. The arrangement may be 's ich that the ends of the grader may be moved alternately if desired.

in cases where it might be required to prepare a section of subgrade in advance of the concreting operation, the subgrader mechanism is arranged to be detached from the other portion of the machine and for this purpose, as shown in Fig. a, the forward part of the traveling carriage or bridge may be provided with downwardly projecting pins 89 adapted to fit in sockets or openings 9c in the subgrader frame 65. If desired, the attachment may be made by screwing nuts upon the lower ends of the pins 89. These pins or gudgeons, of which there may be one or more,

preferably a single gudgeon in the center of the machine for permitting of a flexible movement between the subgrader frame and the traveling bridge, may be simply lifted out of the holes 90, or this lifting action may be produced by adjusting screws 91, such as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. The adjusting screws 91 are carried by the spout frame 92 and bear against the forward portion of the traveling bridge or carriage, the spout frame having a pivotal movement at its rear end about the pivot point 93 shown in Fig. 1.

In this case the gudgeon 89 will be carried by the forwardly extending portion-of the spout 16. The conveyor spout 16 and its frame will be permitted a slight lateral reciprocation, such movement being facilitated by the rollers 94 shown in Fig. 6 which bear upon the forward portion of the traveling bridge and are yieldably supported by coiled springs 95. These spring members 95 will compensate for slight vertical move-p ment or vibration. It will beunderstood consequently that the subgrader may be disengaged from the other part of the machine, permitting such other part of the machine to rest and the subgrader may be carried forward to do the preliminary subgrading work. The subgrader blade 66 may be adjusted up and down by means of the adjusting screws 96 engaging lugs 97 and 98 carried by the beam 68 and subgrader blade 66. The ramp 96, when it is required to be used, is pushed forward with the subgrader by the connecting rods 97. The ramp may be provided with depressions 98 to accommodate the rear wheels 99 of the motor truck for spotting the truck at the proper position for dumping the concrete.

Referring more particularly .to Fig. 7, it will be noted that the endless treads 640 are positioned on the outside of 'the side forms 12. The machine frame and other parts are omitted in this figure for the sake of clearness. This outside positfon of the endless treads is advantageous when an extremely heavy machine is used to avoid distorting the subgrade on account of the heavy weight of the machine. Of course, the out-' side endless tread 64a will encounter uneven surfaces and to compensate for same, the subgrader blade 66a may be adjusted up and down as required. The subgrade planer or blade 66a in Fig.

'7 is shown as carried by and adjustable vertical- 1y from, the subgrade beam 680; which is provided with rollers 99 supported upon the side forms 12.

These rollers carry the weight of the subgrader laterally by the eccentric motion. In Fig. 7, the

subgrade planer 66a is shown as provided with a saw toothed edge, as indicated at 1.61. Lateral thrust rollers 102 are also carried by the subgrade planing device. It will of course be understood that the subgrade planer is provided with the necessary clearance between the side forms l2 so as to permit the lateral reciprocation oi the grader.

The eccentric arm 67 will allow for vertical adjustment of the grader as may be required.

As heretofore described, the subgrader may be disconnected from the mixing and screeding portion of the machine, permitting the screed and other parts of the equipment torest in place, while the subgrader is moved forward to com-- plete the grading operation in advance of the placing of the concrete. This method will be found advantageous when the delivering-of the concrete by the trucks has been interrupted for some reason or other. This would permit the workmen to utilize the subgrade part of the machine during interruption.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive, instead of employing the screw conveyor for spreading, agitating and remixing the concrete, an endless belt 105, of steel or other appro-. prfate material, may be used, such endless belt being disposed about the rollers 106 and 107 and h 105, and this second shaft 111 is equipped witha plurality of scraper blades 112. A lever or handle. 13 is affixed to the shaft 111 to manipulate the scraper blades whereby such scraper blades 112 may be lowered into contact with the concrete, whereby to scrape the same from the moving belt. As shown in Fig. 8, a number of the levers 113 may be provided, one lever for a 15 each scraping blade 112, which will have free movement about the shaft 111 for manipulating the scraper blades independently of one another.

when the scraper blades are lifted out of contact with the belt 105, it is to be understood that the concrete will be discharged at the end of the belt over the roller 10'? and onto the subgrade;

As shown in Fig. 10, the hopper 76a may be equipped with agitators or a mixing device 114, consisting of blades or paddles, having-a rotary movement if desired. These blades or paddles 114 may be used in place of the agitating fingers 109 where desired. In cases where a mixer or agitator 114 is used, it will not be required to use the scraper blades 112 to sweep the concrete from the belt.

.- As shown inFigs. 10 and 11, in lieu of the blades 112, a plurality of rollers; 115 maybe used,

such rollers being disposed beneath the upper run of the belt 105 and serving as supports to the conveyor. These rollers 115 are carried by frames 116 pivotally mounted, as indicated-at 117, and having levers 118 whereby the rollers may be tipped at an angle either to right or left. and independently of one another whereby the concrete will slide laterally off the belt and discharge on the subgrade in the position as may be desired.

"The rods 105 may be connected between the subgrader frame and the traveling carriage or bridge, and these rods will be so arranged as to be detachable when the-subgrader frame is removed from the remainder of the machine.-

When the chute l6 and conveyor of the screw type is employed, the gates 17 maybe hinged as indicated at 120 in Fig. 2 and provided with levers or handles 121 for the purpose of raising and lowering the gates 17. The gates may be held closed in any appropriate manner or in any intermediate open 'position. One or all of the. 55 gates 1'1 maybe opened to permit the discharge Referring now to Figures 2 and 6, the disc cutter 122 is securely attached to the shaft 123, to which is also secured a gauge wheel; 124. The shaft 123 has bearings 125 carriedjon. depending arms 126 for attachment to the carriageframe 19 for vertical adjustment thereon, The shaft 123 has free lateral movement in .the bearings 7 125 so that the carriage may move or reciprocate laterally without reflecting on the cutting disc Having thus' described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

16 1. .m a machine for building a local remixing device for the material extending above the roadway with its length extending longitudinally of the roadway, a movable carriage for supporting said device, a transversely moving screed supported by said carriage for movement beneath the device, and means for adjusting said screed as toheight.

2.'-In a machine for building roads, a remixing spout having a receiving hopper at one end and provided with discharge openings in its lower portion distributed along the length thereof, discharge gates for controlling said openings, a screw conveyor lying through said spout, means for operating said conveyor, fixed mixing blades in said spout adjacent the conveyor, and means for supporting the spout for movement longitudinallyof the roadway.

3. ma machine for building roads, a traveling carriage,'a joint installing member trailed after said carriage and supported at its forward portion for transverse swingingmovement to engage a in the concrete to form a transverse ioint groove, and means for raising and lowering said joint installing member.

4. In a machine for building roads, a traveling carriage, a joint installing member trailed after said carriage and pivotally supported at its forward portion for swinging to. position transversely of the roadway, and means for imparting to the joint installing r05 movement.

5. In a machine for building roads, a traveling carriage, a joint installing member trailed after said carriage and having a' pivotal movement at member a rapid vibratory its forward portion whereby the member may be 0 for transversely adjusting the same.

'7. An apparatus for building roads comprise ing a carriage, a longitudinal and transverse joint cutting blade pivoted to the carriage at its forward part being trailed after the carriage and movable in a horizontal plane about the pivot point to enable the blade to assume a position transverse-of the roadwav at either side of-the pivot point, said blade having a socketed Part, a 130 transversely-reciprocating drive member-on the carriage having a reversely-dispcsed head to engage the socketed part in either lateral position of the blade, a screed coupled to the carriage an 1 -lyingbackofthetransversepositionof the blade,

and means to elevate the screed. v

8. An apparatus for building roads comprising acarriage, a joint-cutting blade-pivoted to the carriage at its forward part being trailed after the carriage and movable in a horizontal plane about the pivot point to enable the blade to assume aposition transverse .of the roadway at eitherside of the pivot point, atransverscly- I ciprocatlng drive member on the carriage having detachableconnection with theblade in either 14:-

transverse position, a screed coupledrto the carriage and lying back of thetransverse position of the blade, andmeansto'raise andlower the a. An apparatusfor comprising a carriage, a cutting blade pivoted to the carriage at its forward part being trailed after the carriage and movable in a horizontal plane about the pivot point to enable the blade to assume, a

position transverse of the roadway at either side of the pivot point, and a transversely-movable drive member on the carriage having detachable connection with the blade in either transverse position.

10. An apparatus for building roads comprising a carriage, a cutting blade, vertically and horizontally adjustable supporting means on the caruse 

